Johansson and Boedker, young forwards for the Washington Captals and Phoenix Coyotes, both agreed to two-year deals with their respective teams on Saturday. Johansson's is for a reported $2 million average annually, and Boedker's is for $2.55.

All three were restricted free agents. All are 23 or younger. It's easy to see why those dots get connected. The difference, though, is simple—Kadri is coming off a much better season than any Johansson or Boedker has ever had and thus should not feel compelled to accept the same amount of money.

Johansson, like Kadri a first-round pick in 2009, had his best NHL season (six goals, 16 assists) playing left wing on a line with Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom, and on Washington's league-best power play unit. Kadri's most frequent linemates: Clarke MacArthur and Leo Komarov. In 183 NHL games, Johansson has 33 goals and 62 assists.

Boedker, a 23-year-old winger, is now on his third contract. Last season, he had seven goals and 19 assists in 48 games. His most frequent linemates, Martin Hanzel and Radim Vrbata, are, obviously, worse than Johansson's but still better than Kadri's. In 2011-12, Boedker had 24 points in 82 games. That came after two seasons spent partially in the AHL, which followed an 11-goal, 17-assist rookie season. In 256 career NHL games, he has 34 goals and 61 assists.

The mere fact that Boedker and Johansson have played more games than Kadri doesn't make them better, or a wiser investment. How well they played in those games is relevant. So, don't expect the guy who had 44 points himself in 2013 to magically deserve the same deal as the guys who combined for 48.

While we're at it, here's some of the 2013 stats in spreadsheet form.

Now, this is definitely fodder for those who say Kadri should come off his reported demands for a long-term deal—bridge contracts like Johansson's and Boedker's are becoming the norm, fair or not, and fighting for big money after one very good season is a major ask.

Kadri also doesn't have much leverage beyond holding out, though that's mitigated by the fact that the Leafs desperately need him. But all bridge deals are not created equal, and there's no reason to expect Kadri to take $2.5 million a year or so just because A) two less-productive players did it themselves and B) the team, through its own fault, can't offer him much more than that—unless, for whatever reason, you want the Leafs to pay their players as little as possible.